Today marks the shortest day of the year, as we celebrate the winter solstice. 

Terri Lang Meteorologist for Environment and Climate Change Canada, "Well, of course, the Winter Solstice is the beginning of astronomical winter, we consider meteorological winter December, January, and February. Astronomically speaking the winter solstice is when the sun has reached its southernmost point over the Southern Hemisphere, and then it will make its way back North again. Technically we're on an upswing the days will get longer and the nights will get shorter. It will be a slow descent into that and a slow ascent back into more sunlight hours. That's what the winter solstice is."

Lang on whether the solstice has certain weather that comes along with it, "Absolutely not, its more of where the planet is and the sun, and all that kind of stuff. No weather is associated with that because it's astronomical and not meteorological."

Technically, the solstice occurs when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn or 23.5° south latitude. Which means that for half the year, the North Pole is pointed toward the sun. For the other half of the year, the South Pole gets more light.

In the Northern Hemisphere, “peak” sunlight usually occurs on June 20, 21, or 22 of any given year. That’s the summer solstice. By contrast, the Southern Hemisphere reaches peak sunlight on December 21, 22, or 23 and the north hits peak darkness - that’s our winter solstice.